Wilson, Robert Thomas: The British expedition to Egypt: carefully abridged in two parts (London, 1803)

I was, indeed, born poor;

or to-morrow, the days of Djjezar him-
-not because he is
(Mere he proceeded

I know they regret him much at Cairo, and
‘ wish-he was there again.
“ I spoke to him on the peace between
France and the Sublime Porte, and he replied
thus:—‘ Do you know why I receive you, and
* take a pleasure in seeing you ? It is be-
' cause you have come without any Firman. I
' pay no respect to the orders of the Divan ;
‘ and I have the most profound contempt for
* its purblind Vizir. They say that Djjezar
‘ is a Bostrian, sprung from nothing, and a
c cruel man ; but in the mean time I am inde-
** * I
' pendent of every one, while they are obliged
‘ to solicit me. I was, indeed, born poor;
‘ my father left me nothing but his courage. I
c raised myself by my own efforts; but that
r does not inspire me with pride, for every
' thing comes to an end ; and, perhaps, this
c day
* self will be terminated
c old, as his enemies say.
' to handle his arms in the manner of the Ma-
c melukes, which he did with great agility)—-
c but because God has thus ordered it. The
f king of France, who was powerful, has pe-
f rished. Nebuchadnezzar, the greatest king
f of his age, was killed by a fly,” &c. He ut-
tered several sentences of the same kind; and
afterwards spoke to me of the motives which
induced him to make war against the French
army. In all his conversations it was easy to
be remarked, that he was desirous to be recon-,
oiled to the First Consul, and that he dreadW
his a liner.